Coil holder



19142- c. HOLDGATE- ETAL 2,2 3

COIL HOLDER Filed Jan. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS John C HO/dga fe and Will/amPDona/d Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE con. HOLDER John C. Holdgate and William P. Donald, Warren,

Ohlorassignors to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc., Warren, Ohio, a corporation of -hio Application January 18,1941, Serial N... 375,034

'13 Claims.

. side diameter, with a 20" eye or inside diameter,

weighing 700 pounds per inch of width. The problem of supporting a coil of this size, while being unwound for processing in strand form, is rendered more difllcult by the relatively small size of the eye, which limits the size of the mandrel of the coil holder. The great weight involved by the large outside diameter of the coil introduces further difficulties. A portion of the diameter of the eye, furthermore, must be allowed for the expansion of the mandrel. The factors already mentioned, however, place a strict limit on the amount of space available for expansion. If only a limited amount of expansion of the mandrel is possible, the coil holder It is common, for- Further details and advantages of the inven tion will be pointed out in the following complete description and explanation with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the aforementioned preferred embodiment. In the drawings;

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section along a vertical plane through the axis of the mandrel of our coil holder;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 11-11 of Figure 1, showing parts in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the mandrel, taken substantially along the plane of line 111-111 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view partly in section along the plane of Figure 1 and partly in end elevation.

cannot support coils whose inside diameter may vary materially. For obvious reasons, the amount of mandrel expansion should be as great as possible.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the coil holder of our invention indicated generally at [0 comprises a mandrel ll having a journal portion l2 extending from one end thereof and rotatably mounted in bearings l3 seated in a housing It. The housing has a base portion l5 adjustable along ways It on a bed plate ll. A

89 this means, the mandrel ll may be rotated at We have invented a novel coil holder having I an expanding mandrel which is sufficiently strong to support the large coils now favored by steel mill operators and, at the same time, has a comparatively large degree of expansion and a small over-all diameter when collapsed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, we provide a rotatable mandrel with radially movable. segments and mount a wedging member for longitudinal movement relative to the mandrel. This member and the segments have cooperating inclined surfaces to effect initial expansion. We also provide further means, in the form of links connecting the segments and the wedglng member, adapted to cause continued exfitting within the recesses in the mandrel and shoe portions 26 exposed on the exterior thereof.

40 The segments are radially movable by means about to be described from the positions shown in solid lines in Figure 3 to the positions shown in' dotted lines, and vice versa. on expansion, the segments grip the interior of the eye of a coil previously disposed on the mandrel.

pansion after the inclined surfaces have" produced the maximum expansion of which they are capable. We thus gain the advantage of positive operation characteristic of mandrels contracted An expander or wedging member 21 is movable longitudinally in a central bore in the mandrel II. The expander 21 is carried in a shaft 28, one end of which extends through the journal portion l2 of the mandrel and outwardly beyond the bearing l3 remote from the mandrel, through a packing gland 29. The shaft 28 is slidable in bushings 28'carried by the mandrel. The shaft 281 has a shoulder 30 bearing against the inner end of the expandera2l, and is pinned to the latter adjacent the other end, as at 3|. The mandrel H has. a removable cap 32 to permit insertion of the expander 21. 1

The expander 21 has inclined surfaces 33 in"- termediate the ends thereof, adapted to cooperate with similar surfaces on the body portion 2! of the segments 24. By this construction, movement of the expander 21 toward the right, as viewed in Figure 1, relative to the mandrel II, will cause outward radial movement.

or expansion of the segments 24. v

Links 33 are pivoted to the segments 24 adiacent to each end thereof and to the expander 21. The expander has slots 36 to receive pins 31, securing the links 33 thereto, whereby the initial longitudinal movement of the expander does not cause. any movement of the pins 31. In other words, the slots 36 provide a lost-motion connection. Pins 31' secure the links to the segments 24.

We provide power means for actuating the shaft 28 longitudinally to move the expander 21 outwardly and inwardly relative to the mandrel II. This means may conveniently take the form of a fluid-pressure cylinder 33 mounted on the base portion of the housing l4 having a piston 39 therein and a piston rod 40. The piston rod 40 is connected to the shaft 23 through a thrust bearing 4|, the outer race of which is secured in a cup 42 threaded onto the piston rod. The inner race of the bearing is secured on the end of the shaft 23 by a nut 43. Concoils. The construction is also such as to provide ample strength for supporting the heavy coils now being rolled.

Theweight of the coil is transferred through the segments, wedging member, shaft, and bearings 23', directly to the mandrel, so that the nections 44 to opposite ends of the cylinder 38 and a suitable control valve (not shown), permit operating fluid to be admitted to the cylinder to actuate the shaft 23 outwardly or to the right, as viewed in Figure l, and then to retract it.

It will be apparent that the initial outward movement of the expander 21, as previously stated, forces the segments outwardly, by reason of the cooperation between the inclined surfaces 33 and 34. This tilts the links 33 slightly. The slope of these surfaces, however, must be small in order to provide the necessary mech cal advantage. This means that the total expansion which can be produced thereby is relatively small. After a predetermined movement of the expander 21, however, the ends of the slots 33 therein engage the pins 31. Thereafter, continued movement of the expander 21 causes further angular movement of the links 35. Since the segments 24 are confinedagainst longitudinal movement, the continued angular movement of the links causes further outward movement ofthe segments and separation of the surfaces 33 and 34.

By this mechanism, the shoes 28 of the segments 24 are caused to engage the interior of the eye of a coil with sufllcient force to maintain it against slippage and in truly cylindrical form as it is being uncoiled. I

When it is necessary to remove the coil from the mandrel before it is completely unwound, or when the uncoiling has been completed, the shaft 28 and expander 21 are actuated to the left, as viewed in Figure 1. When the ends of the slots 36 engage the pins 31, the segments are positively pulled inwardly orcontracted.

The coil holder described is particularly useful in connection with a car 45 traveling on rails 48 and having a coil-supporting platform 41' tiltably mounted thereon. The platform is carried on a liftable standard 43 slldable in a well 43 depending from the car frame. The car is more fully described and claimed in the copending applicashaft itself is not subjected to any substantial bending moment. This makes it possible to use a small shaft to provide space necessary for the wedge and linkage mechanism.

The invention overcomes the limitations of an expanding mandrel actuated solely by wedges or links. In either case, the amount of expansion obtainable is relatively slight, particularly where the maximum diameter available is small, compared to that characterizing our invention. The positive collapsing of the segments is a great advantage over conventional wedge type expanding mandrels, which are sometimes very diiilcult to collapse. Similarly, the expanding action is positive throughout the range, as compared to the use of links alone, because with the latter, expansion is positive only near the limit of outward movement. At intermediate points, there is not sufficient mechanical advantage with links alone to obtain effective gripping. of the coil. With our construction, the wedging surfaces provide the expanding force until the links are in position to. operate effectively in continuing the expansion.

Although we have illustrated .and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction and arrangement disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a coil holder, a mandrel, means supporting said mandrel for rotation, segments movable radially in said mandrel, a member movableaxially of the mandreLsaid member and segments having cooperating wedging surfaces whereby axial movement of the member effects an initial outward movement of said segments, and links pivoted to said member and said segments adapted to cause further outward movement and separation of said surfaces on continued axial movement of said member, said links having a lostmotion connection with said member.

2. In a coil holder, a mandrel, means supporting said mandrel for rotation, segments movable radially in said mandrel. a member movable axially of the mandrel, said member and segments having cooperating wedging surfaces whereby axial movement of the member effects an initial outward movement of said segments, and links pivoted to said member and said segments with a lost motion connection whereby they are effective on continued movement of said member to cause further radial movement of the segments.

3. In a coil holder, a mandrel, means supporting said mandrel for rotation, segments movable 4. In a coil holder, a rotatable mandrel, coilengaging segments movable radiallyin the mandrel, a wedging member movable axially in the mandrel and effective to spread said segments,

and links pivoted to said segments and having a pin and slot connection with said member whereby said links become operative to further spread said segments only after initial movement thereof by said member.

6. A coil holder comprising a mandrel, a journal portion extending from one end of the manorel and rotatable on spaced bearings, segments spaced circumferentially of the mandrel and movable radially thereof, an expander movable axially of the mandrel and having wedging sur-,

faces cooperating with similar surfaces on said segments, and links pivoted to said segments and mandrel with a lost-motion connection whereby they are effective after initial movement of said segments by said surfaces to cause further spreading thereof.

7. In a coil holder, a rotatable mandrel, coilengaging segments movable radially in the mandrel, a wedging member movable axially in the mandrel and effective to spread said segments,

links pivoted to said segments and member with a lost-motion connection whereby they are efiective to spread said segments further after initial movement thereof, a shaft extending from said member coaxially of the mandrel and means for reciprocating said shaft.

8. A coil holder comprising a mandrel, a journal portion extending from one endof the mandrel and rotatable on spaced bearings, segments spaced circumferentially of the mandrel and movable radially thereof, an expander movable axially of the mandrel and having wedging surfaces cooperating with similar surfaces on said segments. links pivoted to said segments and mandrel with a lost-motion connection whereby they are ef-- fective after initial movement of said segments by said surfaces to cause further spread ng thereof, a shaft extending'from the expander through said journal portion, and means for reciprocating said shaft.

9. A coil holder comprising a mandrel, a jour- 3 spaced circumferentially of the mandrel and movable radially thereof, an expander movable axially of 'the mandrel and having wedgi'ngsurfaces cooperating with similar surfaces on said segments, links pivoted to said segments and expander and means for driving said journal portion.

10. A coil holder comprising a mandrel, a journal portion extending from one end of the mandrel and rotatable on spaced bearings, segments,

spaced oircumferentially of the mandrel and movable radially thereof, an expander movable axially of the mandrel and having wedging surfaces cooperating with similar surfaces on said segments, links pivoted to said segments and mandrel, a shaft extending from said expander through said -journal portion, power means for shifting said shaft axially, andmeans for driving said journal portion.

11. A coil holder' comprising a horizontal member having an-overhanging end, means support ing said member for rotation, segmental 'coil-engaging shoes movable radially of said member, a wedging member movable longitudinally of said first mentioned member, said wedging member having surfaces adapted to force said shoes outwardly on longitudinal movement of the wedging member relative to the first mentioned member. and links pivoted to said wedging member and shoes with a lost-motion connection whereby they are effective to cause further outward movement of the shoes on continuance of such movement of said wedging member.

12. Acoil holder comprising a horizontal member having an overhanging end, means supporting said member for rotation, segmental coilengaging shoes movable radially of said membena wedging member movable longitudinally of said first mentioned member, saidwedging member having surfaces adapted to force said shoes outwardly on longitudinal movement of the wedging member relative to the first mentioned member, and links pivoted to said wedging member and shoes adapted to cause further outward movenal portion extending from one end of the man- 1 drel and rotatable on spaced bearings, segments ment of the shoes on continuance of such movement of said wedging member, the pivoted conmotion between the links and one of said members including slots.

13. In a coil holder, a mandrel rotatably supported as a 'cantilever, with one end free to receive a coil, segments movable radially of the JOHN c. HOLDGATE. WILLIAM P. DONALD. 

